"I want to always be wrapped up in my acting" - Shibuki Jun Moon Troupe "Great Pirates"/"Jazz Mania" interviews [2] 2001/07/10 I really don't feel (that I'm a Top) yet, and this causes difficulties with my motivation, but standing here now like this in front of everyone I can feel the weight of my responsibilities coming down on both shoulders. There's also a lot of pressure from going on ahead to Tokyo, but pressure can be changed into a powerful force, and I want to make a "New Moon Troupe," with youth and power. I want to use this new job to entertain many people. Thank you. Q: What's your impression of Emi? I met her by chance during her stage debut in the line dance for Moon Troupe's "Nova Bosa Nova". I met her back then, but the first time I really saw her perform was in the recent production of "Rose of Versailles," where she played young Oscar, and she really made me feel that she was a girl with a lot of heart. I was impressed. Since then I had several opportunities to talk with her and get to know her smiling face. From now on, as we've become Top, I'd like the two of us to be able to be a versatile and clear couple. Q: In "Great Pirates" you play a pirate. I think everyone's image of a pirate is of black hair, eyepatches, and turbans... but this time I want to throw off this pirate stereotype that everyone embraces. And my hair is blond. Emelio, the character I play, wasn't born a pirate, and as all kinds of pirates appear in this play, I look forward to making my point of why my character is a different kind of pirate. I want this production to be a story about a man--a pirate--who as lead character is focused on his fierce dance, until the girl (Emi Kurara) appears on the scene, and brightens up the story. Q: We've already asked the producer about your personality, but how would you describe yourself? To begin with, I hate doing what everyone else is doing. When I'm playing a part--Emilio, for example--I become Emilio. I'm not thinking about pulling down or not pulling down the image of the orthodox otokoyaku, I want to always be wrapped up in my acting. I think perhaps this is what I can say my personality has become about. Q: What kind of otokoyaku-type are you? I can completely switch over between when I'm on stage and off. Of course my base for becoming an otokoyaku is also constantly there. My otokoyaku policy is "A gentleman must always be kind*." I've made this philosophy my otokoyaku base. Be kind to the ladies, that's my policy. [* "yasashii" also translates as 'tender; gentle; suave'] Q: So you can completely switch between on and off? Being on stage is questing to be thoroughly male, and when I come down off the stage, well, I don't put on a skirt, but I want "actor" to be only one of the roles I am able to perform. And I want to feel my age. Actually, I don't really like suits much. I love to be able to wear all kinds of western-style clothing, so not being able to wear skirts is a little vexing, but, well, that's a "distant dream" I'm holding onto. Usually there's a standard habitual dresscode in order to not break down the otokoyaku image. It's the position of Takarazuka, so we have to look out for it. Q: Today both you and Emi-san are wearing white. Today is our first time to make an appearance together, so we chose white to make people think of solidarity and pureness. And I'm also a pirate, so I wore stripes underneath. Truly, I wanted that clean slate. White can become anything, after all. Clearness means you can become any number of colors. Until the day I leave the company, I want to be a versatile actress.